Originally, Ye Sheng did not approve of Li Kai taking independent actions during the mission. However, firstly, the ghost’s target in this attack was very clear, and secondly, Li Kai was one of the few "friends" he had made on the radio. Under the other’s repeated insistence and assurances, this outcome ultimately came to pass.
This "accident" also added a layer of unease to the participants who had just learned of Feng Wenxuan’s death.
But Li Kai himself knew nothing of all this. At that moment, he was walking back to school, savoring the warm atmosphere of the family gathering.
A gentle and affectionate mother, a mischievous and adorable little sister, and a weary father who had just returned from abroad—the family sat joyfully around the dining table. This heartwarming scene nearly moved Li Kai to tears, but he managed to conceal his emotions well, only discreetly wiping his eyes with the back of his hand when no one was looking.
If only this were real! Li Kai thought to himself. Time ticked by, and soon it was evening. If he didn’t leave now, he’d miss the last subway.
"Kaikai, can’t you stay tonight? Your dad doesn’t have to work tomorrow; he can drive you to school then."
"Yeah, big brother, don’t go!" his little sister whined beside him.
Li Kai’s heart ached at the thought of leaving, but he hadn’t forgotten that this wasn’t a real world. His so-called "family" was merely a backdrop set by the story. And in this world, eerie forces lurked, ready to strike at any moment!
Though he was reluctant beyond words, he had to steel himself. He pinched his sister’s chubby cheek and said, "Big brother has things to do. I’ll play with you another day."
"I don’t want another day! I want today!"
"Xiao Ning, be good. Don’t disturb your brother’s studies." Their mother’s voice came from the side. The little girl pouted and stormed back to her room.
"Kaikai, let Dad drive you back to school."
"No need, Mom. Dad just got off the plane and must be tired. Let him rest."
"What’s so tiring about driving his own son?"
"Mom, the subway is convenient enough. Don’t trouble yourselves. I’m off now."
As he bid his "parents" farewell, a bitter smile crept onto Li Kai’s lips. He turned and walked toward the door, but his father’s voice called him back.
Li Kai turned around and saw his "father" pull a small box from his suitcase, open it, and take out something that looked like a pendant.
"What’s that?"
"A Buddhist amulet. It wards off evil."
"How many times have I told you not to buy tourist souvenirs?" his mother interjected.
"This isn’t a souvenir. It was blessed by a high monk at the temple. It’ll keep our Kaikai safe."
"I didn’t know you were so superstitious."
"How is this superstition? It’s for our son’s safety."
Listening to his parents’ banter, Li Kai’s mind stirred. A Buddhist amulet? Warding off evil? Could this phone call he’d received actually be part of the story’s design, triggering a hidden event for his character?
With this strange thought, Li Kai stepped out of the "home." After walking a distance, he looked back and noticed an eerie atmosphere shrouding the residential complex.
The buildings were pitch-black, devoid of any light. Not a single person moved within the compound.
Even the guard booth was empty.
He glanced back at his "home." The windows had turned into a murky darkness. Where were his parents and sister now?
So this really was just a fake world—or rather, a stage for a story.
When the plot involving him unfolded, relevant characters—like his family and schoolmates—would appear. But once the scene ended, they vanished like extras no longer needed by the crew, leaving empty spaces behind.
It wasn’t just the complex. The streets were the same—dark and deserted, with only streetlights casting their glow on the empty ground.
A chill ran through Li Kai’s heart, snapping him back to reality.
The family affection he craved was nothing but a mirage.
Instinctively, he reached for the amulet hanging around his neck and touched it. A strange smile crossed his face.
Had that phone call been the trigger for a hidden plot? If he hadn’t chosen to go home, would he have missed out on this item?
This story was actually quite interesting.
Clatter, clatter.
The empty train continued its journey. Looking out the window, the desolate world seemed to hold only him.
Of course, when the sun rose tomorrow, perhaps everything would reappear.
Like his favorite American show, *Westworld*—when the story restarted, the whole world would come alive again.
Lost in thought on the subway, Li Kai suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
His phone, which he’d turned off, had somehow received a text message. And from it came a distorted, eerie electronic tune...
Not good...
Li Kai’s heart sank. When he saw the screen, he felt as if he’d fallen into an icy abyss.
It’s here...
That terrifying game.
He’d received the cursed game. That meant Feng Wenxuan, the participant, had been killed by the curse?!
Li Kai tried to make a call to confirm, but his phone screen had already started running the game program automatically, refusing to let him open any other apps.
The game was forcing him to play!
On the screen, it was deep night in the game world. At the same time, another pixel character ran in from the bottom of the screen, dashing straight into the cemetery behind the village!
Seeing so many tombstones at once startled Li Kai, but he quickly noticed a deep well at the end of the path. Beside the well stood two stone statues with names he could investigate: "Zhou Xiaomi" and "Feng Wenxuan."
When he examined the second statue, a prompt appeared on the screen.
"You have obtained the Ring of Water."
Ring of Water? What was that?
It looked like an in-game item, but he couldn’t see any use for it.
Just then, the screen flickered with a large patch of static. When it cleared, Li Kai was shocked to see a little girl NPC had appeared beside him out of nowhere.
"Ah?!" The pixel character on screen seemed startled and stepped back.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"I’m lost," the little girl said. "I can’t find my way home."
"What do we do?"
"Mom said there’s a flower that glows at night. If I find that magical flower and follow it, I can find my way back."
"A flower?"
"Yes. But you have to watch out for the ghosts on the road."
"Ghosts on the road? What ghosts?"
The girl suddenly fell silent and ran off the top of the screen. At that moment, Li Kai noticed the subway lights had started flickering eerily!